When Can A Puppy Leave Its Mother?

[Violet Turner]

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When Can A Puppy Leave Its Mother?

I have been reading up on this topic a lot and i would like advice. A fair few people will give puppies away at 8 weeks but I'm not sure.

I have been told 7 weeks, 8 weeks and 10 weeks but what am I to choose for my 4?

I would love the puppies to stay longer but 10 weeks will be too much, and 7 weeks far too early. What age did you get your puppy at and why?

In my experience I have suggested to other dog owners 8 weeks but is this too early?

 

[JudyN]

To an extent it depends on the skills of the breeder & new owner. A breeder/trainer I know said she'd rather take a dog at 7 weeks if the breeder wasn't going to socialise it well, because she could then do the socialisation needed. It may also depend on the mother - I know Jasper's mum had more or less had enough of her litter by the time they were 5 weeks old so he wasn't in effect 'with his mum' by 7 weeks.

Beyond this, there does seem to be conflicting advice on the internet. Any time between 8 and 12 weeks may be fine, but the later it is, the more vital socialisation by the breeder is. I think the breeder I mentioned makes sure that by the time the pups go they have spent time on their own in crates, and at someone else's house, so moving on won't be such a big change for them.

 

[Kayak]

The majority of standard pet breeders will start rehomong their puppies as soon as they can at 8 weeks, while some will hold onto the puppy until 12 weeks to provide the training and socialisation as well as to complete the initial course of vaccinations.

I always thought it was illegal to separate puppies from the litter/dam before they are 8 weeks old.

 

[poptart]

We got Theo at 6 weeks. Can't remember the exact reason the breeder gave, but it was some sort of health problem with the mother. We managed fine although he was so tiny we had to bubble wrap a lot of the house for a couple of weeks to keep him safe. The biggest issue has been he has never seen himself as a dog. He doesn't play with other dogs or show much interest in them. I'm convinced that's because he left his litter too early.

 

[Caro Perry]

We got Harri at almost 10 weeks. He was ready whilst we were due to be on holiday and he stayed the extra time with the breeder (any decent breeder should be prepared to keep the pup for you like this) rather than us taking him with us and him having to get used to two new home environments - the holiday cottage and then his real home.

 

[Violet Turner]

We got Harri at almost 10 weeks. He was ready whilst we were due to be on holiday and he stayed the extra time with the breeder (any decent breeder should be prepared to keep the pup for you like this) rather than us taking him with us and him having to get used to two new home environments - the holiday cottage and then his real home.

i am prepared for keeping them longer, i have not done home checks, should i do home checks and a background check on the owners?

 

[Caro Perry]

Some do - some don't! I think I would as I would want my pups to go to the right homes. Too many people are swept away by the idea of a cute puppy with no understanding of what they are actually letting themselves in for.

 

[Violet Turner]

Some do - some don't! I think I would as I would want my pups to go to the right homes. Too many people are swept away by the idea of a cute puppy with no understanding of what they are actually letting themselves in for.

ok thank you! i will do some home checks

 

[maxfox]

It would better to do after two month of living with mother. I`ve read some academic papers about it before I`ve got my puppy. It`s really nessecery to know before you give away your dogs. So, look. 1) Breast-feeding stops normally at 4-5th week but our vet recomended us to repeat this period till 8th week cutting it down gradually. It gives a time for animal to adapt himself to normal eating. 2) Socialisation! This is depends not only on mother but on her owners too. Puppy has to get used to people and it goes better when mum is near. It`s not as simple as seems to be.

 

[Violet Turner]

It would better to do after two month of living with mother. I`ve read some academic papers about it before I`ve got my puppy. It`s really nessecery to know before you give away your dogs. So, look. 1) Breast-feeding stops normally at 4-5th week but our vet recomended us to repeat this period till 8th week cutting it down gradually. It gives a time for animal to adapt himself to normal eating. 2) Socialisation! This is depends not only on mother but on her owners too. Puppy has to get used to people and it goes better when mum is near. It`s not as simple as seems to be.

Everyone has been round since day 1 so they have been socialised at home and we have done some home visits with Samson and Fudge, but not Ollie yet. They have had a couple of dogs come over and the puppies loved it! We have reduced breast feeding down to once a day every morning until next week were there will be none!

 

[PWDmum]

A bit late to this thread, but generally most puppies will leave their litter around 8 weeks of age, toy / small breeds will stay a little longer ( around 10weeks ) m due to a slower growth rate. But then it is also down to individuals litters and how quickly they develop , most dams have had enough of their babies around 5 weeks of age, they can become to much for the dam to cope with so she will spend less and less time in the whelping box with them. But that’s not the end of the socialisation those last few weeks with their litter mates it crucial to their education, just because mum is no longer interested, spending time with their siblings is important in learning social skills such as bite inhabitation.....along with social life lessons.

 

[leashedForLife]

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In puppies, the primary socialization period ends at 12-WO / 3-MO, which gives the puppy-buyer only a month in which to do all their most-effective & easiest, critical socialization & habituation.
The secondary socialization period runs from 12-WO / 3-MO to 6-MO, but it literally takes double the effort for half the quality of results; U have to bust yer butt to accomplish what would be as simple & easy as breathing, if it was done with that same pup when s/he was under 12-WO. [Any socialization or habituation that is done after 6-MO is considered rehabilitative - the dog missed the boat. ]

Given those 2 facts, i wouldn't delay placing pups beyond 8 to 9-WO -- unless there was a very-unusual reason for an individual pup to need more time - such as recovering from a surgery [significant abdominal hernia, tying-off a PDA, or other major event].

With only 4 weeks in which to introduce the puppy to a minimum of 100 widely-divergent friendly strangers, who each act, sound, look, & smell as differently as possible from one another, time is tight. // That's not even considering the additional need to expose the pup HAPPILY to many settings, noises, sights, etc, during that same time-period, for habituation.
New-puppy owners have a tremendous amount to do, & very little time in which to do it - & do it well.

- terry

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